Adidas' "Laces" with pathways mimicking shoe laces aside the foot print-like main building in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

Adidas' "Laces" with pathways mimicking shoe laces aside the foot print-like main building in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

Photo: Copyright: adidas Group

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The 110 meters tall Aldar headquarters building is the first circular building of its kind in the Middle East.

The 110 meters tall Aldar headquarters building is the first circular building of its kind in the Middle East.

Photo: Copyright: Michael Merola

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The 367 meter-tall Bank of China Tower is among the world's tallest corporate palaces.

The 367 meter-tall Bank of China Tower is among the world's tallest corporate palaces.

Photo: Copyright: Johannes Kaira

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This 101 meter-tall tower at BMW's headquarters in Munich is intended to evoke the pistons of a four-cylinder engine.

This 101 meter-tall tower at BMW's headquarters in Munich is intended to evoke the pistons of a four-cylinder engine.

Photo: Copyright: Abdul Rahman

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Moscow centered natural gas extracting company.

Moscow centered natural gas extracting company.

Photo: Copyright: Leonid Kazakov

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A group of 7 inter-connected skyscrapers in Motor City (Detroit), evoking the grandest days of GM.

A group of 7 inter-connected skyscrapers in Motor City (Detroit), evoking the grandest days of GM.

Photo: Copyright: Dan Macy

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Towering over NYC, this building consists of the 1920's original Hearst Building as a base, the tower added much more recently, its 182 meters rising to form the first skyscraper to break ground in New York City after 9/11. less

Towering over NYC, this building consists of the 1920's original Hearst Building as a base, the tower added much more recently, its 182 meters rising to form the first skyscraper to break ground in New York ... more

Photo: Copyright: Mathias Beinling

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Basically a table on 16 angled steel legs, ING House is in Amsterdam.

Basically a table on 16 angled steel legs, ING House is in Amsterdam.

Photo: Copyright: Michiel van Dijk

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Samsung's home in Seoul, Korea.

Samsung's home in Seoul, Korea.

Photo: Copyright: Alexei Bobko

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452 meter-tall twin Petronas Towers - the tallest buildings in the world up until 2004 -compose the HQ for this petroleum giant in Malaysia

452 meter-tall twin Petronas Towers - the tallest buildings in the world up until 2004 -compose the HQ for this petroleum giant in Malaysia

Photo: Copyright: Jon Bek

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Towering in the Pudong New District of Shanghai, the Riviera TwinStar Square project forms part of the Lujiazui Central Financial District.

Towering in the Pudong New District of Shanghai, the Riviera TwinStar Square project forms part of the Lujiazui Central Financial District.

Photo: Copyright: Evan Chakroff

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Canadian energy company EnCana's "The Bow" designed by Foster + Partners (who are also designing Apple's new HQ in Silicon Valley)

Canadian energy company EnCana's "The Bow" designed by Foster + Partners (who are also designing Apple's new HQ in Silicon Valley)

Photo: Copyright: Daniel Haug

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In London, the Lloyd's Building is the youngest building ever to obtain Grade I listing, considered a "key buildings of the modern epoch" according to Architects Journal

In London, the Lloyd's Building is the youngest building ever to obtain Grade I listing, considered a "key buildings of the modern epoch" according to Architects Journal

Tour CMA CGM is a 147m tall skyscraper in Euroméditerranée, the central business district of Marseille, France.

Tour CMA CGM is a 147m tall skyscraper in Euroméditerranée, the central business district of Marseille, France.

Photo: Copyright: Iwan Baan

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Spectacular corporate architecture around the world

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Corporate towers, campuses and complexes are becoming almost competitively innovative. Fancy business cards too easily thrown away, elaborate websites too easily ignored, clever commercials too easily fast-forwarded, the world’s most successful companies choose to invest in their own buildings. These spectacular structures (compiled by Emporis) in turn stand out from the pack, changing the landscape both literally and figuratively. Or at least, that’s the hope.

Readers, you are–generally speaking– the consumer, and therefore the intended audience. What do you think? Impressive or just really expensive?

Anna Marie Erwert writes from both the renter and new buyer perspective, having (finally) achieved both statuses. She focuses on national real estate trends, specializing in the San Francisco Bay Area and Pacific Northwest, and writes for SFGate and CurbedSF. Follow Anna on Twitter: @AnnaMarieErwert